Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Liquid by A.K.

Coker

The Physical and thermodynamic property data such as thermal expansion coefficient are
essential in process engineering design. Liquids contained in process equipment will expand
with an increase in temperature. To accommodate such expansion, it is necessary
to design a relief system which will (or vent) the thermally expanding liquid and prevent
pressure build-up from the expansion. If provisions are not made for a relief system, the
pressure will increase from the thermally expanding liquid. If the pressure increase
is excessive, damage to the process equipment will occur.

THERMAL EXPANSION COEFFICIENT

The correlation of thermal expasion of liquid as a function of temperature can be expressed by

m
T
Bliq a 1
TC

where

Bliq = thermal expansion coefficient of liquid, 1/oC

a and m= regression ocefficients for chemical compound
T= temperature, K
Tc = critical temperature, K

Regression coefficients for thermal n-Pentane

a TC m Tmin, oC Tmax, oC Temp, oC Temp, (K) Temp/Tc 1-Temp/Tc Temp, oC

0.000788 469.65 -0.7179 -129.73 173.02 -129.73 143.42 0.305376 0.694624 -129.73
-109.73 163.42 0.347961 0.652039 -109.73
-89.73 183.42 0.390546 0.609454 -89.73
-69.73 203.42 0.433131 0.566869 -69.73
-49.73 223.42 0.475716 0.524284 -49.73
-29.73 243.42 0.518301 0.481699 -29.73
0 273.15 0.581603 0.418397 0
20 293.15 0.624188 0.375812 20
40 313.15 0.666773 0.333227 40
60 333.15 0.709358 0.290642 60
80 353.15 0.751943 0.248057 80
100 373.15 0.794528 0.205472 100
120 393.15 0.837113 0.162887 120
140 413.15 0.879698 0.120302 140
160 433.15 0.922283 0.077717 160
Estimate the thermal expansion coefficient of liquid for n-butane (C4H10) at 60oC
C o e ff. o f T h e rm a l E x p a n s io n , 1 /o C
a Tc m Tmin Tmax T, oC T, K Bliq
0.000876 425.18 -0.7137 -138.29 129.77 60 333.15 0.00261

Ceefficient of Thermal Expansion of n-Pentane (C5H12)

0.006

0.005

0.004

0.003

0.002

0.001

0
-150 -100 -50 0 50 100 150 200
Temperature, oC
Bliq, 1/oC Bliq, 1/oC
0.00102 0.001
0.00107 0.0011
0.00112 0.0011
0.00118 0.0012
0.00125 0.0013
0.00133 0.0013
0.00147 0.0015
0.00159 0.0016
0.00174 0.0017
0.00191 0.0019
0.00214 0.0021
0.00246 0.0025
0.0029 0.0029
0.00361 0.0036
0.00493 0.0049
Volumetric Expansion Rate by A.K. Coker

Crowl and Louvar have shown that the volumetric expansion flow rate for a liquid contained
in process equipment that undergoes thermal expansion from heat input is given by

Bliq
Qv UA Text T
liq C p

where

Qv= volumetric expansion rate ft^3/h

liq density of liquid lb/ft^3
Cp= heat capacity of liquid Btu/lb.oF
U= overall heat transfer coefficient Btu/hr.ft^2.oF
A= area for heat transfer ft^2
Text= external temperature oF
T= temperature of liquid oF

This equation describes the volumetric expansion rate at the beginning of the heat transfer and is
applicable for the design of relief systems. The relief system should be sized to accommodate
this volumetric flow

The tubing in a reactor contains bezene (C6H6) at 25oC (76.7 oF). Other data are:

heat capacity of liquid, Cp= 0.413 Btu/Ib.oF

overall heat transfer coefficient, U= 40 Btu/hr.ft^2.oF
surface area of tubing, A= 500 ft^2

Calculate the volumetric expansion rate if the tubing is exposed to 500oF superheated steam.
Tex= 500 oF
T= 76.7 oF

Estimate the thermal expansion coefficient of liquid for n-butane (C6H6) at 25oC

a Tc m Tmin Tmax T, oC T, K Bliq. 1/oC

0.000661 562.16 -0.7182 5.53 260.9 25 298.15 0.001137

Density of liquid benzene at 25oC

density A B 1 Tr
n

where
density = saturated liquid density, g/ml
A, B and n regression coefficients for chemical compound
Tr = T/Tc = reduced temperature
T= Temperature, K
Tc= critical temperature, K.

A B n Tc Tmin Tmax Temp, oC Temp (K) Tr 1-Tr

0.3009 0.2677 0.2818 562.16 5.53 289.01 25 298.15 0.530365 0.469635

Bliq Conversion factor

Qv UA Text T
liq C p 1 g/cm^3 = 62.4 lb/ft^3
1oF = 1.8oC

Qv 237.6689 ft^3/h
(1-Tr)n den, g/cm^3
0.808169 0.872929